World baldness statistics say that, from the age of 25, one in four men begins to suffer from baldness. Over 50 years old, half of men are bald and in old age the figure increases to 98%. Our country is also the second in the world with the highest rates of alopecia: 42.6%, only behind the Czech Republic (42.79%) and closely followed by Germany (41.24%), according to a study .
But in addition, if we look at the evolution of baldness in Spain, we will see a more than notable upward trend: if in 2011 there were 132,687 cases, 2017 closed with 843,454. 98% of cases are due to hereditary alopecia, which mainly affects men. Stress, poor diet or hormonal changes also influence. Young women and men are not exempt from suffering from a problem that can have psychological consequences, such as insecurities, stress, anxiety and even depression.
When looking for a solution to baldness, many doubts may arise, fueled by fear or misinformation regarding a surgical intervention or some bad practices carried out in countries oriented to this type of “aesthetic tourism.” These are the most frequent questions about hair transplants, answered by Dr. Alejandra Lozano Calderón, Medical Director at DHI Spain.
There are different types of hair loss, and hair transplants are not always recommended as a solution. It is important to make a proper diagnosis to confirm if the patient is a suitable candidate.
Yes, hair transplant is a definitive solution. However, it must be taken into account that, although the transplanted hair will not fall, the original hair may continue to fall.
The main techniques used are FUTT, FUE or Sapphire and DHI. FUTT is the technique with which a strip of skin is removed from the back of the head and then the follicular units are extracted from that strip, generating a scar in the area.
The FUE technique is based on the extraction of each follicle using a punch a few millimeters in diameter from the donor area. The scalpel is used for incisions in the scalp, where the follicles will be implanted. One FUE variable is ARTAS, which uses a robot to extract the follicles.
The DHI technique is characterized by the use of implanters, which allow the follicle to be injected directly into the skin, so no incisions are made.
In the extraction phase, the use of a punch of a few millimeters in diameter allows the recovery of the donor area to be faster. The use of implanters, which do not require incisions, allows for faster healing. We also make the DHI hair transplant undetectable, since we control the orientation of each hair hair by hair.
It must be taken into account that the donor area is not an unlimited source, so the better we take care of this area, the more sessions can be done. That is why we insist on the importance of planning and designing it without plundering it excessively.
The number of sessions will depend on the receiving area to be treated. If the stage of alopecia is not very advanced, we will need fewer surgeries.
It is a minimally invasive surgery, where under local anesthesia and after cutting the hair, we will extract the follicular units from the donor area and implant them in the area to be treated.
The surgery can last six to eight hours, depending on the follicular units to be transplanted. In cases where the areas are very large, it can be carried out in two days.
No, this procedure is under local anesthesia, injected directly into the area to be treated with very small caliber needles, almost imperceptible to the skin and is not invasive.
It will depend on the type of hair the patient has and the area to be covered. Generally it is advisable to shave to see the areas better. If the patient is a woman, the curtain technique is used: the hair on top covers the part that is shaved.
Small scabs remain in the extraction area and in the implanted follicles, which normally fall off between the fifth and seventh day.
Sessions in small areas have a price from €2,400. Currently, the average of the budgets that we are closing is €3,500, but depending on the number of follicles it can be reduced or increased.
The diagnosis at DHI Barcelona is completely free. It consists of a first visit by experts, where the patient's expectations and family history are evaluated and a physical examination is performed with specialized tools such as the trichoscope, which allows us to plan the most appropriate treatment for each case.
Beforehand, a medical evaluation and laboratory tests are necessary to know the medical and/or personal history. Next, we must take into account hair growth cycles: during the first three months it is normal for hair to fall out due to a post-transplant “shock stage.” The results begin to be seen after nine months, as long as we follow medical recommendations for the care of grafted hair.
Every day, we can lose between 100 and 150 hairs out of the 100,000 we have on average. If pulling your hair releases more than two or three hairs at a time, it may be a warning sign. Although there is only one way to recover hair forever, transplant, it is not possible in all cases. Therefore, it is best to consult with a specialist.
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